THE HEBRIDES QUESTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8125, 2 June 1906, Page 3

THE HEBRIDES QUESTION.

MB SEDDON'S IMPERIAL MISSION. STRONG REPLY TO A DEPUTATION.

TIKED OF DOWNING STREET METHODS.

THE BOLDEBT COURSE. Received 1,10.65 p.m. Mblbocbne, June 1. A deputation representing the Pres. bjterian Mission in the New Hebrides, waited on Mr Deakin and Mr Seddon and urged the oritical state of affairs if the islands were to pass to the French. The question was approaching a crisis. Tfcdy urged Mr Seddon, who was one of the strongest men in the Empire, to admit the products of the Hebrides. That would be one means of solidifying Australasian interests* Australia had refused to give prefer' ence to the products of the group, and it was hoped Mr Seddon would show a better example.

Mr Deakin, replying, said he would not occupy much time, so that the deputation might hear Mr Seddon, who linii made a deep study of the question. He hoped the result of his conference with Mr Seddon would secure some satisfactory arrangement. Mr Seddon, replying, hoped that public opinion would be awakened to the dangers ol delay, and that steps would be taken to settle the question for all time. The Hebrides wore at one time in commission for New Zea laud. That was Providence watching over them, but stupid men undid the work. He lengthily referred to the work of Downing Street in the past in relation to New Caledonia, Hawaii, Figi, Tonga and Somoa. Coming back to the Hebrides, he said the cause of the trouble was the supineness of tbe British Government. What he objected to was that in these great questions, they were sent despatches marked " confidential." Why did the Imperial Government put them in that position P They made these things confidential and secret, and when public opinion might be aroused and swayed for the good of the Empire, he could not say what is going on, and yet their liberties and priveleges were being unfringed. He was almos tired of it.

Mr Deakin: Hear, hear. Received 1,11.15 p.m.

Melbourne, June 1. Mr Seddon continued: I stand here to-day with my hands tied. What are they afraid of? They say it will prejudice their position with friendly nations. The fact is, it will prejudice oar position, hence there will be no leakage. But while he noticed the Imperial Government was anxious to have the proposed Convention secret it n> published in the French papers. The native phase had not been equitably considered, bnt the Imperial Government natives were entitled to as much consideration as the Maori; received. They owned the land, and their interests should be considered. He had one cable from the British Government: "Thanks very much for assistance rendered." He did not want thanks, he wanted action. They were now asked to revise the provisional agreement'. There had been no one to represent Australia and New Zealand in drawing np the Convention. He did not mean to say anything about the people representing Britain, but it they were to be judged by the agreement sent out here, they knew very little of the subject. The French, however, had not been so unmindful of their people's interests. He admired French diplomacy, but Australia and Neif Zealand had cause to complain, that in a matter in which they were so deeply interested, they had not been consulted. They ought to have been.) He agreed with the deputation that' if they could get the French j abandon- their interests in the Hebrides, receiving as compensation some-other country from Britain, it would he [the jHpper solutionof the digiculty. HewZealandwould adhere to'the position she took up from the first, and representations would follow

. from the Commonwealth and New " Zealand oil these lines. The boldest y coarse was the best, and it was the fight course to state what our view? Were, in the interests of the Empire and Australasia. Received 1,11.45 p.m. STDKET.May 1. When New Zealand had suggested a division of the islands rather than a protectorate, it was painful to her, but in view of what had happened in the

past, and in view of the fact that Britain had surrendered her interests to other nations, he believed it was the better way, to divide the islands and make one section French and the other British. France as a coloniser had not been over successful and the chances were that the Britisher would be so successful that it would only be $ question of time when the French colonists would throw their lot in witli There was a danger of France trading her interests to America, and \fhere America went, she would apply her shipping laws. Mr Deakin and himself would do their best to make the protectorate such as would prevent danger arising to nativeß and British settlers. The Joint Commission over the Hebrides should have the right to oinclude reciprocal treaties with New Zealand and Australia. Mr Deakin, in reply to a question, had said nothing would be confirmed without hearing out views. Mr Seddon added, "We haV' decided to strongly recommend thai there should be one code law for ever} S oul in the place."